Gabe Marchán - Guitar, Lead Vocals & Chief Protagonist
Gabe Marchán, the founder and frontman of The Gabe Marchán Group is originally from the Milwaukee area and is now local to the South Metro area of the Twin Cities. Blending Buddy Guy's Chicago blues with elements of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas blues and BB Kings Mississippi blues as well as all points in between, Gabe has crafted and developed a unique style and sound playing in numerous blues bands throughout Milwaukee.
Gabe leads the group with his intense vocals and his high-energy electric guitar talents.
Voted #1 Blues Band in the galaxy by we the people! 1 year in a row!
Dave Coldren aka Chilly - Keyboards, Attitude & Hip Eyewear
I started scratching away at the piano when I was 7 or 8. I say that because I am self-taught and play by ear. Towards the end of high school, I made the mistake of buying Machine head by Deep Purple, heard John Lord and that was it. I played in several traveling rock bands and after starving for years joined the Air Force. I played whenever I was home or found a keyboard or someone to Jam with when away.
I have never liked the notion that a keyboard should be a background instrument and you'll know that when you hear me play.
Matt Rhodes - Bass & Why You "Head-Bob"
Music and musicianship have been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. As a junior high school tuba player, my band teacher suggested that I should learn Bass Guitar. "It's common for tuba players to double on bass.", he said. What he meant was, "We need a bass player for the jazz band, and you already read bass clef." Fortunately, I immediately fell in love with the bass.
From there I discovered the joy that comes from making music with a group of people that share that same intensity and purpose. Ever since I've been hooked on playing with and being a part of a group of musicians. I've had the privilege to play with so many incredible musicians in a broad range of styles and settings. I'm excited that I get to count GMG among them.
Barry Knudson - Drums & Head Chef
When 5th grade rolled around, I was interested in joining band and had the choice narrowed down to trombone or drums. My mom played drums in high school, so I figured I could lean on her if I was struggling; ergo, trombone didn't make the cut. In 6th grade, I devised an innocent yet diabolical plan: to purposefully miss the bus (buying me about 20 minutes while my mom drove into town to pick me up) so I could jam in the band room as I did not own a drumset. My band director, Mr. Joseph Pekas, endlessly generous, would saunter out of his office, sit down at the piano and take me under his wing. "Ok, here's how you play a shuffle… now, hear how the chords change? That's where you play a crash… with the kick on one… ok, now hear how the chords change again? That's where you play a fill and go to the ride… now, let's try a Bossa Nova."
As you can guess, my parents bought me my own drumset - a used 1970's Slingerland in Black Pearl, which I still own to this day.
I've had the good fortune of playing with so many amazing musicians and learning from so many wonderful teachers over the years. To call out influences (while important and humbling) would be an encyclopedic endeavor better saved for another time and medium.
Suffice it to say, I am still that kid missing the bus so I can jam in the band room. Maybe someday I can be as hip and deep as Steve Jordan's sunglasses.